The age of concern

Roy Keane doesnt snarl so fiercely now but could still outshine his younger rivals in the Manchester derby today

Last Thursday, at a £250-a-ticket gala dinner at Bolton’s Reebok stadium, Roy Keane was inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. Along with Alan Shearer, Keane is the only current player to be granted such an honour. In time, Keane will reflect with pride on this achievement, but on the night he may have only half-felt like celebrating. How, privately, the Manchester United captain would hate the thought that he is already a museum piece.

Keane fears nothing as much as becoming obsolete. For two summers now, he has railed against encroaching age. Before the start of this season, he declared, “I still fancy my chances” against midfield juniors such as Steven Gerrard. The previous year, he gave a defiant pledge that he would give up the game as soon as he felt his powers wane. Yet time waits for no player. Coming to terms with that is